Automatic arc welding apparatus



Dec. 6, 1949 A. A. BERNARD 2,490,024

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I ll mgg;

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Dec. 6, 1949 A. A. BERNARD 2,490,024

AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 2,4l-NL0Z4 AUTOMATIC ARC WELDING APPARATUS Arthur A. Bernard, Chicago, 111., assignor to National Cylinder Gas Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,941

This invention relates to continuous feed or antomatic welding machines and to the production of welds of various widths by such machines through the use of an electrode which in crosssection is oblong, i. e., has greater breadth than width when viewed in cross section.

In welding operations with automatic welding machines it is commonly found that in making a welded seam, particularly in scarfed or V-butt joints in thick metal, it is necessary to make several passes over the joint in order to get a satisfactory weld, and, obviously the width of theseam on'the last pass is substantially greater than the width of the seam made during previous passes that are farther down into the base of the welding groove. A narrow electrode such as is desirable to use to get to the bottom of the V during the first pass to maintain a short are with good weld penetration is obviously too small for laying down the subsequent layers of weld material where, due to the sloping sides of the V, the width of the joint is considerably greater. In general, the present practice is to use a sumciently small rod so that the first layer or pass will properly be made and provide additional power driven mechanism to weave the electrode back and forth substantially at right angles to the longitudinal line of the weld, thus increasing the width of the weld for later passes. This practice is commonly termed stitch welding and is generally used in preference to changing to a larger size electrode as a means of varying the size of the produced weld.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a continuous feed welding machine which may readily produce welds of varying widths and without reciprocating the electrode laterally in order to vary the width of the seam. This is accomplished by the use of an electrode of oblong cross section and by rotating the electrode with respect to its longitudinal axis to produce welds of the desired width.

A further object of this invention is to control the relative speed of travel between the welding head and the work in accordance with the angular position of the electrode with respect to the joint being welded, this preferably being controlled as a function of the intercepted line produced by the projection of the line of said travel across the cross section of the electrode to achieve a substantially uniform deposit of metal per 'unit of length traveled regardless of the rotative setting of the electrode.

Further and other objects of this invention will becomeapparent as the disclosure proceeds 16 Claims. (Cl. 2198) and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the broad face of the type of automatic wire electrode pref-.

erably used in connection with this invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional viewof the continuous wire electrode shown in Figure 1,' this section being taken on the line 22 of that views and cross sectional views, respectively,

showing howthe rotation of the electrode about its longitudinal axis enables seams of differ ent widths to be laid down,

clarity,

Figure 11 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figures 10 and 11,

-Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of the welding head,

Figure 13 is a plan view of the same,

5 down,

on the line l5|5 of Figure14,

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view through the rheostat arm, and.

mechanism for the work holder carriage.

- It should be understood that the particular em-- bodiments of the invention shown in the drawings and hereinafter described are for the purpose of complying with section 4888 of the Revised Statutes and should not be construed as im---- posing limitations on the appended claims except as may be required by the prior art.

the application of this invention to the making of a welded seam along a V-butt joint, such as shown in Figures 3-8- inclusive, but the invention ily limitedto this particular type is not necessar Q (of weld.

Good welding practice requires substantially uniform current densities during the welding 013- eration in order to obtain the desired penetration Figures 3, 5 and '7 and Figures 4, 6 and 8 are top Figure 9 is a side elevational view showing a; preferred embodiment of an automatic welding machine made inaccordance with this invention;

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the" same with parts of the frame being omitted for Figure 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken,

.Figure '17 is a diagrammatic. perspective view 5 showing a modified form of the speed control- For simplicity, it will be convenient to discuss thickness of weld material is deposited, the more weld.

It is for this reason that conventionally making a V-butt joint weld a relatively small electrode is-used so that it can extend into the joint in making the initial passes over the joint, and then, as the seam is b iltupi aalateral ree ciprocating movement is imparted to the electrode to produce a seam of the desired width and appropriate thickness for each pass.

This conventional manner of welding a v bute joint requires expensive; equipment and takes more. time thanp e ueing a weld. in. attendan e. w h my i vention, his s ccomp shed. y using. u tomatic, wire. which. n oss ctionis oblong, and rotating the wire, aboutit longiti dinel. ax s present e ther, hevmin r. axisor. the. major. axis. of thewire tothe se m or. to s en. the wire n. seme ntermed ate position... Adiditionel advantages, are ained y. au omatically controlling the speed of the work with reference to. he, weldin d, n acco dance. with. the idth of. the. s embei aleid down- The automa icwire or. conti uous wire lec:

trode. i hv I. prefer to. use, sef. he ype own.

in Figures 1 and 2 and consistspi a cprezlhal ling alternate ribs 21. and g rooves 22 whichgive theeo a lon itudinally serrated, sur ace, The

core i e the esired weld material; nd; a, s al con u t r. 2.3 of. e. same or. similar eld material. is tightly. wrapped, aboutthe core with sufficient tension to firmly engage the ribsv fj Specific. elati ns ps. between, he. moun o core metal, flux in the grooves and the likeare, isclosed in etail. in my. ee-n nd ne e i tion, Serial No. 730995 filedFebruary 2J5; 1917,

and the disclosure of that application. is specifi. callyincorporated-herein by rejerence.

It, will be noted that in cross; section theelegctrode is of oblong shape having a major axis, Z'Jr'and'a minor axis 2-6. The fluxmaterialflextends only-to the top surface of-the spiral'corrductor 23, leaving marginal areas- 21 free; of flux for coaction with contact blocks in the; welding machine which enable current to beconducted laterally through the spiral conductor 23- into;

thecore 20 of the electrode;

Referring now to- Figures 3-8 inclusive, the continuous wire electrode of the type shown in- Figures- I and 2. and" heredesignated generally 28;.is.showninthe manner it: is used fonproduc-- ing; a. multii-pass; seam ins a. \L-butt weld; The

plates; to be joined areindicatedKatIQ and-.30 andthe' mating; edges. are chamfered; as: shown at 31', producing a V-shaped groove havinga; small; rectangular throat a-11ea,3;2; Assuming that on each pass ofthe welding; machine adeposit of; uniform thickness is desired, the procedure; according to my invention 1s;for-the electrode;

tame st u d s9. hat ts maio s. 25.- s.- 10..

aligned with the groove, whereupon a deposit 33 is laid down at the bottom of the groove. On the next pass the electrode is rotated about its longitudinal axis so that it is at an angle of say 45 degrees to the line of travel, and a second deposit 34 is laid down. Because on this pass of the electrode, the electrode is turned to present greater breadth to the; joint, a wider seam is laid. down; butit. must be moved. relative to the work at a slower rate in order to deposit the same thickness of weld material.

Onthe third and, last pass over the joint (assuming a three-pass weld), the electrode may be turnedglasjn Figures '7 and 8, with the minor axis; 26 aligned with the groove, and, in this position, a still wider deposit 35 is laid down and. the ate, of, movement between the electrode and the work must be still slower than that when. operating the electrode in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Thepresent. invention, in addition toproviding meansfor supporting theelectrode-inany desired;

relative: speed between the work and-the electrode;

in order to obtain; substantially uniform depths of deposit, on the various, passes made over t e joint to-be welded.

Referring now to Figureszllel-l, inclusive, tl ieref is. shown an automatic welding; machine incore. porating the principles of this invention. The;

machine consists of, a; bed: 4i uponv which. is;

moun e a w rkholder age 4t unn n nen. tracks. and;- being driven; by a motor l3 through. a rack 64 secured to; the'underside oi the; carria 412 and; a driving pinion 45, mesh; therewith;

The; carriage; is depressed, indicated; at; it

alo a ine di t y un er-i the ieinlrto beiweld di rests; upo irth e carriagedj: and-.issecurely clamped:

thereto. The; v-joint to be welded is indicated at 4.1;,

A, frame; 48:; rises vfrom the bed 411'? and: carries aifeed mechanism, generally designated" 59'; and awelding headzor jaw assembly, generally desig=-. mated 50:

The electrode wire.,28- is wound upon aspool- H with its broadface against. the spool andthe electrode. isthen passed between conventional straightening rollers 52; 53 and 54 thelatten one. of: which is adjustable relative to the other two in, ordertoapply the desired amount of tension for straightening the wire. The-- wire thenpasses downwardly through I feed rolls 5'5 suitably driven by a motor 53- mounted on the-frameand preferably; controlled. in response to the voltage across the; arcin: a manner. well known in the welding.- art.

The jaw assembly. 5:9;isbest' shown in Figures 121 and: 13" and% it. comprisesa rectangular-metal block 57% having'a central. bore 58 lined= with=a wear-resistant sleeve 59 and providing an axial rcul r: passa e; 60.. oissuflicient diamet mitzthe electrode wire28xto rotate:ab0ut-:itS-longi-- tudinal axiswithout restraint.

The; lower portion of the welding headblocle 51. is bifurcated tolrveceive afixed contact-:- block 6L rigidly-supported in place by bolts 62 and a movablecontactzblock 63 pivoted at; the tcpiahoutr. abolt; 64-;and1urged inwardlyvat thebottom byiar leaf; pr n 65 secured; t its upper; end: to: the welding; -head;b10k;51; as;,sl'1QWn at;fi.3-, andzpresse. ing at its lower end against;thealower-portionofi the; contact black; 63. The nressurezexertedz on thebloe tt-through the spring. sbzisladjusted bye a wing nut 61 and the stud 68 carrying the wing nut 61 also serves as a terminal post for bringing in the current to the electrode through a flexible braided connector 69 extending from the stud 68 to the contact block 63, as shown in Figure 12. The opposed faces of the contact blocks BI and 63 are shaped to conform to the oblong cross section of the electrode wire 28 with the excep-. tion that the shoulders and H are spaced apart a distance somewhat in excess of the longer sides of the electrode to be certain that no binding will take place. The recessed walls 12 and 13 of the contact blocks 63 and 6|, respectively, which engage the broad or flat sides of the electrode 28 are substantially flat so that the mating of these two surfaces with the corresponding surfaces of the wire insures a large area of contact between the blocks 5| and 63 and the wire, thereby holding down to a minimum the electrical resistance at the point of entry of the current into the electrode.

When a round wire or electrode is used, it is necessary to have the coacting walls of the contact blocks formed of slightly greater radius in order to accommodate variations in the diameter of the wire with the result that theoretically only a small contact area is provided between the contact blocks and the electrode, 1. e., at the point of tangency. Using a flat electrode of the type herein disclosed with coacting planar surfaces on the contact blocks, it is possible to materially reduce the contact resistance at the point of introducing the current into the electrode.

The upper end of the welding head block 51 is provided with a circular stub shank 14 which is rotatably supported from the frame 48 by a split collar 75 welded or otherwise secured to the frame 48 and adapted to firmly clamp the welding head 58 in any desired angular position. The split collar 15 has laterally extending flanges 16 which may be forced together by a screw clamp TI tofirmly grip the stub shaft 74 of the welding head. It will be noted that the frame 48 which rises from the bed 40 lies in a plane which is at approximately 45 degrees to the line of travel of the 1 work holder carriage 4| (see Figure 11). The reason for this is because the welding head may then have its normal or neutral position, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, with the major and minor axes of the electrode (as viewed in cross section) at an angle of 45 degrees to the joint being welded. To bring the major axis in line with the joint being welded, it is only necessary to rotate the head through an angle of 45 degrees, and to place the major axis across the joint, the welding head is rotated in the other direction through an angle of 45 degrees from the normal position. This means that the electrode wire 28 need only be twisted through an angle of 45 degrees from its normal unstressed position which thereby avoids problems of flaking off of the flux, increased wear on contact blocks, etc., which are inevitably present if the wire is turned through an angle of 90 degrees from its unstressed position.

Since the wire 28 is free to rotate within the sleeve 60 of the welding head 50, it will be seen that when the welding head is turned through an angle of 45 degrees in either direction, the

twist to the wire is appliedthrough the contact blocks BI and 63 and the twist can be absorbed between the contact blocks and the feed rolls 55 without undue strain.

For convenience in rotating the head 50, a handle 18 may be provided, as best shown in Figure 10.

If a uniform thickness of weld material is to belaid down for different angular positions of the welding head, it is necessary to vary the speed of travel of the carriage 4| relative to the electrode. Thismay be done manually in any suitable manner but preferably it is done automatically so, that for any particular weld being made, once the proper speed of welding has been established, the correct proportional speed will be automatically established as the welding head is rotated through any given angle. This may be accomplished in a number of ways and, for the purpose of illustration, one such way is shown in Figures 9, 14, 15 and 16, referred to herein as by electrical control, and another way is shown in Figure 1'7 which may be considered as a mechanical control. In both of these devices means are provided for setting the speed of travel of the carriage independently of any other factor and then imposing upon such speed such variations as are desirable by reason of the changed angular position of the electrode.

It is not intended that the speed control devices hereinafter described should be one hundred per cent accurate because the welding speed is not that critical but is suflicient that for a given change in the angular position of the electrode a proportionate increase or decrease in the welding speed should be automatically effected to bring the speed to approximately optimum conditions.

Referring now to the electrical control form of the speed changing device (Figures 9, 14, 15 and 16), it will beseen that the principal elements thereof include a cam 85 welded or otherwise se cured to the welding head 50, a logarithmic rheo-, stat 86 which is characterized by its generally logarithmic properties of effecting the same percentage changes in the speed of motor 43 for equal increments of movement of the rheostat arm, the rheostate 86 being connected in series with the motor 43 and a suitable source of electrical power indicated at 88. A switch 89 controls the motor circuit through the rheostat and it is understood that suitable switching devices would be provided for the welding current, either independent of or in conjunction with the starting switch 89 for the motor 43.

By referring to Figures 12 and 13, it will be seen that the cam 85 is of substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the electrode 28 but is in magnified scale and set 90 degrees out of phase therewith. The portion of the cam 85 which should conform to the shape of the electrode lies above and to the right (Figure 13) of the minor and major axes, respectively, of the electrode 28, so that the used portion of the cam extends from the intercepts of such axes with the edges of the cam and comprises the peripheral surface of the cam extending from the point 90 to the corner 9| and thence to the point 92 (Figure 13). Assuming that the breadth of the electrode 28 along the major axis is twice the width of the electrode along the minor axis, the distance from point to the corner 9| should then be twice the distance fromthe corner 9| to the point 92.

The rheostat 86 is automatically varied by movement of the cam through a cam follower 93 supported in ways 94 and 95 which form the end blocks for the rheostat itself. When the welding head 58 is turned in a clockwise direction to bring the major axis of the electrode at right angles to the joint being welded, the cam follower is at the point on the cam (as shOWn in Figure 75 15); and when the welding head is, rotated in it I amaze counterclockwise direction; to: the. other. limit; of its travelwith the. major axis. of the electrode aligned. with the join-t,.the camfollowerwilt-be at the point 92i of the-camfiE (Figurerla'l...

I The'cam-follower is urged-1against the cambya spring. 96 which is bottomed-on thewaw-Mand has. its. other" end. engaging; a pin: '91-? ink. the fol lower. The" follower is slotted, as shown at 98 .50 that the rheostat arm, generally designated: 98;

comprising a rider Hllland'rheostat'finger: Hit may be adjusted along the follower. To this endisthe rider N is provided with depending fl'angesriflz having aligned openings I03; to receive a clamp ing screw l 64.

Al'ock-pin '19 is mounted through a; hole inway 94. This pinis adapted to engage a recess; 80' in follower arm 93.. Pin IS-has. a knurled. handle-8 andflis threaded into a leaf. spring 82; The-leaf. spring 82 is suitably mounted on: way 94'; as by means ofa screw83... When: it is desired-tolock: follower: 93 out of contact with cam.85, forex ample, when it may be desired to: removethe welding head 53 from the frame, it is only'necessary to manually pushthefollower back into the ways whereupon pin 79 will be displaced. outwardly against thet'ension. off the spring 82'- by contact with; asloping shoulder 84' in the end ofslots 93. When: the follower: ispushed sufiiciently. into the way, pin 19' will bexurged' into recess 80 by the spring, and the follower: will be locked in a retracted position. To release the follow'erthe operator need only grasp handle. 8t to pull pin T9'outof engagement wi-threcesssfi;

' The rheostat 86 has a: special winding Hi5 which taken in. conjunction with. the characteristics of the motor causes th same percentage change in the motor speed for: equal increments ofmovement. of'the rheostat arm along. the winding. This logarithmic relationship is indie'ated" by the scale ilfi The advantage for employing arheost'at-having. this particular relationship: may be explained by the following examples. Assuming: the" use ofa rod-,: thelength of the. sides-ofwhichbear a Ito 2 relationship to each other, it-willbe-seen that the speed of travel iwhen' the major axis is-pai-a'llel' to; the relative line: of: travelshould be twice asgreat as when the minor axis'is parallel to -such line of travel.

If conventionalr motor control mechanismwere used, say such a type that, taken incon-junction with the motor characteristics, a movement-- setting of 20 inches per minute the-highspeed setting would" be 401 inches per minute which would be the correct-relationship for the F'by' 2 rod. However; ifiitwere desired to have theslow speed setting at any other value, say 40 i'nohes per minute, then the remainder of' the' setting of the: control speed would be incorrect; In thislast example the high speed setting woul'dbe 60'- inches per minute, which is a 50% increase rather than the-100% increase required for a 1 by 2 rod;v

For this reason the logarithmic control illus-- trated and described 'is used. In the particular" logarithmic scale me illustrated in-Fi'gi 14, the scale. is 5-2- inches long. This resistance issuchthat, taken in conjunction witlr the motor characteristics, a, movement (to the right) of the length of the sides.

increase: in: speed of travel, no matter: what" the originalzsetting of. the: wiper arm may have been (providing, of course, that the movement'- is withinthe limits of the resistor) Thus, if a I by 2' rod were to be used in. the apparatus-illustrated, the diiferencein throw between points 90 and 92 on the cam would be 1% inches. If a1: by 3 rod: were to be used, the (inference in throw of the cam would be 2 5%- inches, while fora- 1 by 4 rod the difierence would be 2 inches. With a cam having the proper throw all that the operator is required to do is to pre-set-contact- N31 to the proper value for the first pa'ss, and the speed of travel for the follow-' ing passes will be automatically regulated. Such pro-setting is done by loosening handwheel' I04- andadjusting the rider I00 for the proper speed of travel. An aperture 81' is provided in arm 99 to act, in conjunction with scale we, as an indicator for the setting oi" the resistor wiper.

It can be demonstrated that for a welding electrode of oblong cross section, the welding speed should be a function of the length of the portion of'the relative line of travel intercepted by the cross section of the welding electrode. By referring to Figures 3-8 inclusive, it will be seen that when the electrode has its major axis aligned with the axis of the groove, the intercepted line of travel is equal to the length of the broadface of the electrode; when the electrode ispositioned with its minor axis 26 aligned with the axis of the groove, the intercepted line of travel is equal to the narrow faceof the electrode. For any intermediate angular position of the electrode, the

length of the intercepted line of travel will vary according to the angle. For example, in Figures- 5 and 6, when the electrode is positioned at degrees, the intercepted line-0f travel is indicated by the length" of the line Hi7, and the preferred welding speed is a function of such length. For the extreme right angle positions, i. e., with the major axis of the electrode parallel to the line of travel and with it at right angles to the line of travel, the speed of' travel is proportional to the If one side of the electrode is three times that of the shorter side, the welding speed when the electrode is positionedwith its major axis acrossthe joint should be one-third the speed at which welding is done with the major axis aligned with the joint or seam.

It will be apparent that if the head 58 were turnedso. that the relative line of travel is paraflelitoa diagonal of the rod, thecam feeler would be resting on the. corner-9i (Figure 13) of the" cam, and that in such a case, the speed of travel" wouldb'e considerably greater'tha'n at any other angularposition of the rod. Due tothe pointing of the end of. the cam feeler, such an exact/setting is impracticable, and normally' such angular 6i)"position would not be required. When welding rods are used of such proportions that it seems necessary to use an angular setting of the head which brings the diagonal oftherod parallel" to the relative line of travel, it may be desirable to round ofi the corner 91 of the cam, to achieve line of" travel of the work; ifthe camfollower and associated rheost-at mechanism" wered'ispl'aced through an angle of degrees so that the cam follower would'move-in thesame-planeasthe axis of thegroove; thecam would be positioned so as wiper arm 99 0i inches'will result in a-=10( 76- be in phase with the electrode itself.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 17 in which a mechanical device is used for obtaining a similar result, the cam follower H has a rack III which is in mesh with a pinion H2 mounted on a shaft H3 carrying a cam I I4 which is angularly adjustable on the shaft I I3 by means of a set screw I I5. A second cam follower IIG rides upon the cam H4 and is connected to a block H'I carrying a friction wheel H8 which is driven from a horizontal disc H9 attached to the shaft of a motor I20. Rotation of the friction wheel H8 is transmitted to the work holder carriage 4I through a splined shaft l2l, gear box I22, flexible shaft I23, pinion I24 to the rack I25 mounted on the bottom of the work holder carriage. Suitable springs I26 and I 21 are provided to yieldingly urge the cam follower II 6 against the cam H4, and it is obvious that as the cam follower I Ill is moved outwardly by coaction with the cam 85. the frict on wheel H8 is also moved outwardly to increase the speed of drive for the work holder carriage.

The cam H4 is preferably designed so that for equal increments of angular movement, the ratio between the adjacent radii is a constant, 1. e., if the radii R1, R2, R3, R4 and R are of equal angular displacement, the ratio of R2 to R1, of R3 to R2, of R4 to R3, of R5 to R4 all equal the same constant.

Because of this relationship, the desired speed of travel for the carriage 4| may be first established by setting the cam H4 to whatever angular position is required to achieve the desired normal speed of the carriage, and, thereafter any change of position of the electrode will automatically vary the relative speed of travel between the electrode and the work in accordance with the des red functional relationship, namely, the

length of that relative line of travel as extended through the center of the electrode and intercepted by the cross-sectional boundaries of the electrode.

The same result may be achieved without the use of the special cam H4 by having the cam follower H0 connected directly to the block H! with the friction wheel H8 specifically located the same distance from the center of the disc H9 that the end of the cam follower H0 is spaced from the c nter of the electrode 28. By providing a rheostat control for the motor I20, the speed of'the carriage travel may be preset for any given position of the electrode and thereafter changes in the angular position of the electrode will automat cally effect the desired changes in speed of the carriage travel.

The terms continuous wire electrode}? "automatic wire and the like are used throughout the specification and claims in a broad sense and do not imply an electrode of any given length. Likewise, the expression that the work and electrode have relative movement is used in a broad sense and implies a variety of ways in which this result may be accomplished.

I claim:

1. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame, means for moving the work along a line relative to the frame, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section, power driven feed rolls for feeding the wire to the work, a welding-head mounted on the frame and through which the electrode passes in moving to the work, contact jaws having an opening therebetween of substantially the same configuration as that of I the electrode for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said c 10 jaws being rotatable with respect to the line of movement to the work whereby the electrode may be held in different positions of rotation by the jaws to lay down welds .of different widths.

2. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of 'a frame, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section, power driven feed rolls for feeding the wire to the work, a welding head mounted on the frame and through which the electrode passes in moving to the work, contact jaws having an opening therebetween of substantially the same configuration as that of the electrode for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said jaws being rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrode whereby the electrode may be held in different positions of rotation by the jaws to lay down welds of different widths, said jaws normally positioning the electrode over the seam to be welded with the major and minor axes of the oblong cross section substantially at an angle of. 45 degrees to said seam.

3. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section, power driven feed rolls for feeding the wire to the work, a welding head mounted on the frame and through which the electrode passes in moving to the work, contact jaws having an opening therebetween of substantially the same configuration as that of the electrode for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said jaws being rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrode whereby the electrode may be held in different positions of rotation by the jaws to lay down welds of different widths, said jaws normally positioning the electrode over the seam to be welded with the major and minor axes of the oblong cross section substantially at an angle of 45 degrees to said seam, and being adapted to be rotated in either direction through an angle of approximately 45 degrees to position the major axis of the electrode cross section either substantially parallel with or substantial- 1y at right angles tosaid seam.

4. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section, power driven feed rolls opposed fiat surfaces at least one ingly engages said longer: sides.

5. A continuous feed welding machine including a frame, a welding electrode, power driven feed rolls, an electrodecontact, and an electrode contact holder rotatably mounted on said frame, said welding electrode being of oblong cross section, said electrode contact having an internal shape substantially the same as the external shape of said cross section of the electrode, said frame, feed rolls, contact holder and contacts being normally mounted at an angle of 45 degrees from the line of relative travel between the welding machine and the work to be welded, whereby the contact holder and the contacts may be rotated 45 degrees in one direction to produce the widest weld of which the electrode is capable and rotated 45 degrees in the other direction to produce the narrowest weldof which the electrode is capable.

of which yieldtrode relative 'to' thework to be welded in. the,

direction of-"the line of the weld to be made, an electric motor driving said'traversing' means, an electrode guide rotati'vely attached. to said frame whereby said electrode may be rotated through an angl'eo'f 90 degrees to produce welds of varying widths; an indicatoroperatively connected. to the guide to indicate appropriate relative motor speedsforvarious degrees'of rotation of the electrode, and" a rheosta't electrically connected to the motor whereby'the'speed of said motor may be varied as'a function of'the relative length of the-line defined by the interception of the cross.

section of the electrode with the line of movement'as'produced through-said electrode.

'1". Inan automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame; a work' hoider movable relative to the frame, means including a motor for causing the'work holder-and the work supported thereon to move relative to the frame at media.- termined speeds, a continuous wire electrode of oblong 'crosssection adapted to'be' fed to the work to produce-a welded'seam therein, a welding head mounted on the frame-throughwhich the electrode passesinmcving'to-thework, contact means in the head for feeding current laterally into the the el'ectrode, means associated withthe head for rotating 'the electrodeabout its'longitudinal axis,

and mean's controlled by'therotary position ofthe electrode-'relativeto' theframe for varying the speed of travel of the work' holder'toautomatical- 1y produce a weld' seam ofisubstantia-lly uniform thickness regardless of-therotary position of the electrode relative to-"the frame.

Bl m an automaticwelding machine, the combination'otarframe; a= workholder movable relativeto the frame; means includinga motorfor causing the work-holder and the work supported of oblong cross section adapted to be fed tothe work to produceaweldedseam-therein; a weld'- ingv head mo'unted" onthe'framethrough which the=eleotrode passes in moving to "the work, contact means'in thehead fonfeedihg current laterally' into-the electrode, means'-' associated with the head for: rotatingthe 'eleotrode about" its longitudina'ls axis,- and means controlled byfthe rotary position: offtheelectroderelativetdthe frame for varyingthe speed of travel of the work 'liold'er tozautomatically-produce a seam-o'fsubstantiallyuniformthickness regardless ofthe' rotary" position of the electrode relativeto thef'rame', said last-named meane including a logarithmic rh'eostat controlling the motor which drives the work: holder and adapted to' produce equal. percentage changes in the-motor speed 'for' equal increments of movement of the rheostat. arm.

9. In" a automaticwelding machihegthe combination of a frame, a work holdermovable relative to the-frame; me'ansihcliidi'ngi'a motor for causing the work holder-andthework supported thereon to move relative" tothe framea't predeterminedspeeds', a continuous 'wi're electrode of oblong'cross' section adapted to" befed to the.

work" to producea welded seam therein, .a welding head-mounted on the frame through which theelectrode passes in; moving to the work, con,- tact means in theheadffor; feeding currentlaterall-yinto'the" electrode; means associated. with L2 the ,head for rotating the electrode. about, its longitudinal. axis, and means controlled bythe. rotary position of the electrode relative to the. frame for varying the speed of travel of thework holder to automatically produce a weldiseam. of'substantially' uniform thickness regardless of, the rotary position of the electrode relativeto the. frame, said last-named means includingv means. for presetting, the speed of travel of the work holder relative to the frame. and automatically. modifying such speed in inverse relation to. the.

width of the electrode, presented. to. theseamas.

the. electrode is. moved longitudinally along. the.

seam..

10. In an.automati'c welding. machine the-com bination of a frame,.a workholder movable relative to the frame, means including a..motor for causing the work holder. and the Work supported thereon to move. relative to the. frame at predetermined speeds, a continuous wire electrode. of oblong cross. section adapted. to be fed. to the work to produce a welded seam therein, a welding. head mounted on. the frame through. which the electrode passes in moving. toithe work, contact means in the head. for feedingcurrentlateb ally into the electrode, means associa-ted-with-the head for rotating the electrode about itSi longitudinal axis, means controlledv by therQt-ary pOSi-- tion of the electrode relative to the frame for varying. the speed of. travel of the: workholder to automatically produce. a. weld. seam ofsubstantially uniform. thickness regardless of therotary position of the electrode relative to the: frame, said last-named means including a cam shaped substantially in accordance with the cross-sectional. shape of. the electrode butdegrees out of phase therewith, and speed control means operated iromsaid. cam through a device interposing a logarithmic relation between the throw of the cam. and the speed-of travel of thei work holder.

11. In an automatic Welding machine, the-com I bination of.a frame, awork holdermovable rela tive to the frame, means including a motor for head mounted on. the frame through which the."

electrode passes in moving, to the work, contact.

. means in the. head. for feeding. currentlaterally into-the electrode, means associatedwith.thehead. forrotating the electrode. about; its .longitudinaL axis, means controlled by the rotary position: of the electrode relative to. the framefor varyingthe speed of trave'l'of' the work holder to. automatically produce a. weld seam. of substantially uniformthickness regardless of. the rotarypositionw;

cam and the speed of travel of the work holder,,

said speed control means including: a rotary disc: and afriction wheel iniengagementtherewith at variable. distances from the center of said disc.

12'. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of. a frame, a work holder movable relative to the. frame, power means for causing: the:

work. holder and thework supported thereon to. move relative. to the frame at pro-determined? speeds, a continuous. wire electrode of; oblong 13 cross section adapted to be fed to the work to produce a welded seam therein, a welding head mounted on the frame, contact Jaws on the head for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said jaws being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the electrode, and means responsive to the angular position of said electrode for varying the relative speed of movement between the welding head and the work as a function of the length of the relative line of travel intercepted by the cross section of the electrode.

13. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame, a work holder movable relative to the frame, power means for causing the work holder and the work supported thereon to move relative to the frame at pre-determined speeds, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section adapted to be fed to the work to produce a welded seam therein, a welding head mounted on the frame, contact jaws on the head for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said jaws being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the electrode, and means for varying the relative speed of movement between the welding head and the work in accordance with the angular position of said electrode, said last-named means including a cam rotatable with the electrode, and a logarithmic device operated from said cam for interposing a logarithmic relation between the throw of the cam and the speed of travel of the work holder, whereby a change of a particular percentage in the throw of the cam, due to rotation of the electrode, will produce a substantially equal percentage change in the speed of travel.

14. In an automatic welding machine, the combination of a frame, a work holder movable relative to the frame, power means for causing the work holder and the work supported thereon to move relative to the frame at pre-determined speeds, a continuous wire electrode of oblong cross section adapted to be fed to the work to produce a welded seam therein, a welding head mounted on the frame, contact jaws on the head for gripping the electrode and for feeding current laterally into the electrode, said jaws being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the electrode, and means for varying the relative speed of movement between the work holder and the electrode in accordance with the angular position of said electrode, said last-named means including a cam rotatable with the electrode, a feeler associated with the cam for determining from the cam the length of the relative line of a travel intercepted by the cross section of the electrode, and speed control apparatus operating from said feeler and including a logarithmic device for interposing a logarithmic relation between the throw of the cam and the speed of travel of the work holder, whereby a change of a particular percentage in the throw of a cam, due to rotation of the electrode, will produce a substantially equal percentage change in the speed of travel.

15. In a continuous feed welding machine adapted to utilize a welding electrode having a greater breadth than width as viewed in cross section, a frame supporting the welding head, traversing means to provide movement of the welding electrode relative to the work to be welded in the direction of the line of the weld to be made, an electric motor driving said traversing means, an electrode guide rotatively attached to said frame whereby said electrode may be rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees to produce welds of varying widths, a rheostat electrically connected to said motor to vary the speed of the motor, means including an actuating member to vary the rheostat in response to the relative length of the line defined by the interception of the cross section of the electrode with the line of movement as produced through the electrode whereby the speed of travel of the traversing means will vary as a function of the relative length of said intercepted line.

16. In a continuous feed welding machine adapted to utilize a welding electrode having greater breadth than width as viewed in cross section, a frame supporting the welding head, traversing means to provide movement of the welding electrode relative to the work to be welded in the direction of the line of the weld to be made, an electric motor driving said traversing means, an electrode guide rotatively attached to said frame whereby said electrode may be rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees to produce welds of varying widths, a rheostat member electrically connected to the motor to vary the speed of the motor, and

means for varying the relative speed of movement between the welding head and the work in accordance with the angular position of said electrode, said last-named means including a cam rotatable withthe electrode, and a logarithmic device operated from said cam for interposing a logarithmic relation between the throw of the cam and the speed of travel of the work holder, said logarithmic device being operatively connected to said motor through said rheostat member, whereby a change of a particular percentage in the throw of the cam, due to rotation of the electrode, will produce a substantially equivalent percentage change in the speed of travel of said motor and the relative movement between the welding head and the work.

ARTHUR A. BERNARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,508,738 Whiting Sept. 16, 1924 1,873,847 Miller Aug. 23, 1932 2,438,593 Wright Mar. 30, 1948 

